230 PRACTICAL POULTRY PRODUCTION 



Again, when a hen is not laying, these bones feel thick 

 and rigid. When she is laying, these bones are comparatively 

 thin and flexible. A most valuable indication as to whether 

 a hen is laying or not is the spread or distance between these 

 pelvic bones. When laying, the distance between them is 

 greater than when not laying. This distance, or spread, can 

 be measured by determining how many fingers can be 

 placed between the bones. 



When the spread measures two fingers or less, it is very 



Figure 221. — These fowls have been killed and dressed in order to show the 



Eosition of the two pelvic bones and of the keel or breast bone. The 

 lack dots on either side of the vent in each case show the location of the 

 pelvic bones. The black dots immediately above these in each case show 

 the location of the keel bone. The distance between the pelvic bones and 

 the pelvic bones and the keel bone of the bird on the left being greater 

 indicates that she is the better producer. The closeness of those bones 

 as shown on the bird on the right indicates that she is the poorer producer. 



probable that the hen is not laying, while if the spread is 

 greater she is probably in laying condition. When measuring 

 this spread, the difference in the size of hens of different 

 breeds and the corresponding difference in the spread should 

 be kept in mind. It is natural to suppose that a laying 

 hen is a good eater and, therefore, her intestines are more 

 distended and require more room than when she is not lay- 

 ing and not eating so much. It is equally true that when 



